Investigations
Global Compliance's experts are available to perform employee misconduct investigations around the world. While many such ethics and compliance investigations can be handled internally, there are times when an organization should consider using an outside investigator, including when:
- You do not have the proper staff or time to conduct an investigation
- The matter involves a board member or high-ranking official within the organization
- The matter involves someone usually responsible for employment and/or compliance-related initiatives
- You require a sophisticated investigation that is beyond the experience and capabilities of your staff, including investigations of topics such as harassment, fraud, code of conduct violations and workplace violence
- The allegation is very serious and/or litigation is expected
Our experts will conduct an effective investigation and properly document its factual findings and conclusions, based on their unmatched experience in conducting investigations and training thousands of organizations how to effectively investigate alleged employee misconduct.
Expert consultation services for in-house investigators
You may already have trained investigators on staff; however, occasionally those investigators may need specific advice to ensure that the investigations they are conducting are thorough and fair. For example, you may be investigating an allegation of harassment but not understand what constitutes unlawful harassment. Or, you may have limited time and resources to collect information from several potential witnesses, and you need to decide whom to interview first. Handling such situations effectively can dramatically impact the outcome of an investigation.
Our experts are available to consult with you on these types of questions and to help you form a comprehensive investigative plan. Throughout the investigation, we will be available to help you address issues that arise during the investigation. We also can consult with you following an investigation to discuss recommendations for changes to policy and procedure.
Evaluation and creation of investigation policies and procedures
Our experts have helped organizations such as the United Nations and the Inter-American Development Bank establish and update policies and procedures for receiving and effectively investigating alleged employee misconduct. Global Compliance can help your organization ensure that its policies and procedures:
- Encourage employees and others to raise concerns promptly
- Detail the ways in which people can submit reports
- Describe who will conduct investigations, which may vary depending on location, type of issue, role of the accused or other factors
- Provide a step-by-step structure for effectively interviewing witnesses
- Provide a structure for reaching a conclusion on whether the allegation is true
- Provide a structure for writing an effective and legally sufficient report
- Guide your staff on following up with the accused, the complainant and others after the conclusion of your investigation
- Detail where documents related to the investigation will be maintained
Utilizing our Expert Advisors’ extensive experience investigating alleged employee misconduct, we will ensure that your policies are both well written and relevant, but also provide a structure for your organization to gather information effectively in order to reach a conclusion on whether the alleged misconduct has occurred.